SAN DIEGO, California. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the San Diego Field Office thwarted the smuggling of $4 million dollars’ worth of narcotics in the first week of September.
These recent interceptions totaled over 820 pounds come on the heels of other noteworthy narcotics seizures reported at ports of entry along the southern California border in August.
Calexico and Andrade CBP Officers Foil Seven Narcotic Smuggling Attempts Worth Nearly $3 Million | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
More Than 12 Million Dollars’ Worth of Hard Narcotics Found in Heavy Machinery at Otay Mesa Commercial Facility | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)
“Narcotic interdictions remain a high priority at the San Diego Field Office ports of entry as demonstrated by these significant seizures within the first week of September,” said Anne Maricich, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “Our officers will continue to take every opportunity to prevent these harmful narcotics from reaching our communities while simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade and travel.”
CBP officers using their training, experience, and an array of available assets to intercept eight vehicles used to smuggle various dangerous drugs into the U.S. Officers at the ports of entry used K-9 teams and imaging systems to discover the following:
September 1, CBP officers seized five packages of fentanyl, weighing 13.49 pounds, from a female driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
September 2, CBP officers seized six packages of methamphetamine, weighing 52.43 pounds, from a male driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
September 3, CBP officers seized 119 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 126.10 pounds, from a female driver at the Otay Mesa port of entry.
September 3, CBP officers seized 60 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 63.88 pounds, from a male driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
September 4, CBP officers seized 48 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 53.17 pounds, two packages of fentanyl, weighing 5.07 pounds, and a package of heroin, weighing 2.38 pounds, from a female driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
September 6, CBP officers seized 88 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 137.03 pounds, and nine packages of fentanyl, weighing 12.47 pounds, from a male driver at the San Ysidro port of entry.
September 6, CBP officers seized 79 packages of methamphetamine, weighing 215.71 pounds, and 13 pills of fentanyl, weighing 0.0026 pounds, from a male driver at the Calexico West port of entry.
September 7, CBP officers seized 56 packages of cocaine, weighing 141.40 pounds, from a male driver at the Otay Mesa port of entry.
The methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin have a combined estimated street value of $4 million.
All occupants were turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further processing.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and vehicles.
CBP officers at the border crossing in Southern California stop illegal activity while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States. Those statistics can be found here: CBP-enforcement-statistics.